Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-05
HEROINE AND MARTYR.

AAAsOAs0 AAsD Aa04eA i LIS
The French army has lost the day !
For the last three hours the soldiers
crossed the village of Chaille The re-
treat had commenced. Cannons, baggage,
infantry, cavalry, all were mixed together.
The officers tried no more to bring order
and regularity among their men, or to
stop the disaster.
Towards the evening the retreat had
become heller SHELTER, the vanquishea
decreased in numbers, few cavalry men,
and then-nothing.
But in the last rays of the sun the peo-
pie of the village saw dozen of soldiers
coming on the road. From time to time
they turned around and fired shots
at the enemy.
Far off, a black spot, then two, then
twenty, then 100, detached themselves on
the line Of the majestic trees.
Those black spots were the Germans
Arriving in the village, that dozen of
soldiers forming the rear guard was what
was left of the rear guard of the army of
La Loire; they stopped.
The Captain who commanded them had
chosen a good position between two big
houses.
Hurry up boys" said he to his men !;
"we viii erect barricade here 1t shall
not be said that those sauerkraut eaters
have entered this village as in a church.
Burst open the doors if necessary, and
once more hurry up"
That Captain had the tone firm, and his
face expressed anger and determination
his men, old African zouaves and Turcos,
enraged fighters, were not apprentices in
the art Of building barricades. In less
than quarter of an hour the street was
made impossible by cars of manure, mat
tresses, DOORS shutters; in fact, everything
bulky was employed for that purpose.
The Captain, who had picked up a gun
on the battlefield, was reloading it when
tall man with pale face approached
him.
Excuse me, Captain; are you the Off
Ger in commando
Yes"
Believe me, sir. renounce 10 defend
this village against an enemy twenty times
one hundred times - more numerous
than you are; you shall not be successful,
of couny, md you viii cause our village
to be set on fire by the Germans"
The Captain looked at his interlocutor
with an immense expression of disgust
What do you say? VIII you 90 away
mighty quick, or else shall send you to ="
And the Captain took the man by the
neck and was in way to strangle him
81 Ill
emerged from house near by.
Let him go, Captain, he is not worth
the strangulation; my name is Pierre and
l am vine-dresser," said the old man, ad-
dressing the officer. Then, turning to the
coward, he added: go to your home,
Monsieur the Mayor; if you are unwilling
TO do your duty, at least do not prevent
others to accomplish it. You see, Captain,
that Mayor is a monsieur from the city,
sent to us by the Imperial Government ;
all his fortune is in this village in which
he owns several buildings, and if the Ger
mans set them on fire he shall be ruined.
| am myself in the same case; if my cabin
is destroyed do not know what will re-
main for my granddaughter Jacqueline
But what do you want, sir? France, our
country, before anything"
The Captain was touched, and removing
his cap he said to the patriot:
You are brave man, and God bless
you"
" And an old soldier" replied the vine
dresser, STRENGTHENING himself; there is
my Cross of the Legion of Honor, given to
me by the Emperor himself, the great Ma
poleon. Now, Captain if you have gun
to lend me | will show you that l know
how to handle it,"
At this moment lively musketry was
heard from the other side of The barricade.
The Germans were coming
The village was deserted by its inhab-
itants; women, children, cripples and old
people had departed, taking with them
everything they could carry.
The able-bodied men were in the army.
The battle began; the bullets whlstled
in the air and iiattened themselves against
the walls. The French held the place
well, and Papa Pierre, the vine-dresser,
bareheaded, his hair to the wind, fired his
gun bravely, while his granddaughter
loaded the firepiece after each discharge.
Suddenly bombshell burst at ten Yards
from the barricade
Sacre n. de d. exclaimed the Cap
tain, they lombard us now, in ten min
utes we will have to go if"
He had not time to end his phrase when
a second projectile, passing through the
roof of the shelter, covered him and his
soldiers with dust; happily no one was
wounded, alone Jacqueline had uttered
cry. The emotion was too much for the
young girl-she tainted
9 You must retire, Captain" said Papa
Pierre to the officer; but | will remain
here. have some cartridges left; l shall
fire them off. Sop
Never p exclaimed the Captain. "We
shall die here"
| tell yos to retire; YOU are response
bic before God and before the country for
the life of your men. To remain here is
simply madness and not bravery. How
can you defend this village with guns
against cannons, with twelve men against
500?"
1t Is better TO die on French soil fight
ing than in German prison"
But you will not be taken. Leave i'm
mediately that barricade that you cannot
hold any longer. Turn on the right when
you reach .he end of the village, and take
refuge in the brest."
And your
~! am too old to walk
ave shall carry YOU
No, thanks; in this village was born ;;
in this village | want to die Besides that,
/ oonhde my Jacqueline TO you, Captain.
Have you any children yourself?''
-Four"
Then l am tranquil On her tate !
Adieu, captain Adieu, soldiers my young
comrades, and Nive Ia France,"
The Germans advanced. The firing had
decreased on the French side; all at once
it ceased completely. Papa Pierre had no
more cartridges left.
He opened his door, entered his cabin,
threw a glance on the likeness of his
granddaughter, then on a wooden crucifx
and awaited the enemy.
One by one the Germans climbed over
the barricade.